Caravan of Courtship

Sire she's been sighted two miles south of Sinai, our sentinels say she has brought a river, her baggage train stretches into the ancient sands, the envoys of her retinue spoke of marvelous gifts, beasts and creatures of the Orient gems that glitter like the eyes of children summer baskets of gold bullion and satchels of spice from Siam, our men said they could smell the barrels of balsam Sire... To travel with such unmistakable wealth the Queen must have brought a war machine along, have desert brigands been spotted near the route... No my King, no raider encampments have been observed, just the regular rabble and agape villagers, it's been confirmed that her associates are passing to the people pouches of cinnamon... I don't trust the Egyptians, they may try to incite the Bedouins to foolhardy thievery, our Nation's honor demands that not even the dust of the devil's danger deign to dry upon the clothes of her most distant servants, if the House of Zion can secure a partnership with the trading powerhouse of Sheba our supremacy over the Babylonians will be indomitable... I pledge my life, and that of my family's to her caravan's safety Sire... So mote it be General, your loyalty is my blessing, may it be as strong as the staff of Moses, dispatch 333 of the Lion's Legion to reinforce the Queen's guard and send a circuit of 15 water wagons... What does a Queen dream of in the calm desert nights... I dream of roses melting into snake bitten hearts, I've dreamt of citadels broken by the grips of greed, I've seen a child walking out of a tomb, what does a King dream of in the shadow of paradise... I dream of thorned stars, the division of labor and wages, of priests and Judges whom wish to rule quietly without blame... Do you know what thrilled me the most about the Court reception... Tell me, my cinnamon Queen... The seduction of your Servants' silence as I entered your meticulous throne room... I understood their awe, you moved so gracefully, your body like an ancient lust your face a flame of royalty... I think I fell in love with your eyes, there is something rough about you Solomon, but your eyes and lips relay a sweet mercy to me... Mercy is never free Veronica... I will pay the price... We will pay the love cost together... J.A.B.